Strange Holiday (1945 film)
Strange Holiday is a 1945 American movie directed by Arch Oboler. Claude Rains features as a man who returns from a fishing vacation to find America controlled by fascists.
| Strange Holiday | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical poster for the film | |
| Directed by | Arch Oboler |
| Written by | Arch Oboler (radio play and screenplay) |
| Starring | Claude Rains |
| Cinematography | Robert L. Surtees |
| Edited by | Fred R. Feitshans Jr. |
Production company | Elite Pictures General Motors |
| Distributed by | Producers Releasing Corporation |
Release date |
|
Running time | 61 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Introductory material included with the video release of this movie states that it was underwritten by General Motors corporation and was shown initially in private screenings for the corporation's employees.
Martin Kosleck, a German actor who had played a Nazi or Nazi sympathizer in numerous American movies during the Second World War, is featured prominently as a local authority of the new oppressive regime. The new government makes prominent and continual use of an emblem consisting of two crossed swords in much the way the Swastika had been employed by Nazi Germany.
An important theme of the movie is the contrast between brave individuals such as Rains who oppose the new tyranny and the many who quickly alter their thinking and behavior to conform with the new authority. In this the movie resembles Jack Webb's later anticommunist movie Red Nightmare.
Cast
- Claude Rains as John Stevenson.
- Bob Stebbins as John Stevenson Jr.
- Barbara Bates as Peggy Lee Stevenson
- Paul Hilton as Woodrow Stevenson Jr
- Gloria Holden as Mrs. Jean Stevenson
- Milton Kibbee as Sam Morgan
- Walter White Jr. as Farmer
- Wally Maher as Truck Driver
- Tommy Cook as Tommy, the Newsboy
- Griff Barnett as Regan
- Edwin Max as First Detective
- Paul Dubov as Second Detective
- Helen Mack as Secretary
- Martin Kosleck as Examiner
External links
- Strange Holiday on IMDb
- Strange Holiday at AllMovie
- Strange Holiday at the TCM Movie Database
- Strange Holiday at the American Film Institute Catalog
- Review of film at Variety
- Review of film at New York Times